solar geyser

Is there an annual maintenance cost involved for solar powered geysers? How do these things perform during winter, i.e. can one do without an electrically heated geyser during winter in Cape Town?
 
ryan411 said:
Is there an annual maintenance cost involved for solar powered geysers? How do these things perform during winter, i.e. can one do without an electrically heated geyser during winter in Cape Town?
Click to expand...
Mine has needed one tube replaced in 4 years.
Depending on t he size of the geyser and how much hot water you use I don't think you'll get away without electrical boosts.
 
I had my Vacuum tube "Totally Solar" 200 litre system installed in February and it did not give any cool showers until a few weeks ago.

I have now set the element timer to give the geyser a bump from 3-5pm everyday for those days when there isn't enough sun\heat.
 
ryan411 said:
Is there an annual maintenance cost involved for solar powered geysers? How do these things perform during winter, i.e. can one do without an electrically heated geyser during winter in Cape Town?
Click to expand...

I have 3 people in my house and I need to heat it now electricly for enough warm water for the third person. We get more sun up north so I don't think you will get away with no electricity.
 
ryan411 said:
Is there an annual maintenance cost involved for solar powered geysers? How do these things perform during winter, i.e. can one do without an electrically heated geyser during winter in Cape Town?
Click to expand...
Will also depend on where in Cape Town, but it is unlikely that you'd get away without using any power for heating during winter.

Mike Smit said:
And if it don't stay just 2? If your family is established, all good. Else get bigger.
Click to expand...
Then obviously the individual has to know their likely future plans. There's no value in buying something well beyond what is required. They could also expand their system later instead of spending a lot more now on something they don't think they'll use.
 
ryan411 said:
Is there an annual maintenance cost involved for solar powered geysers? How do these things perform during winter, i.e. can one do without an electrically heated geyser during winter in Cape Town?
Click to expand...

Household of 6 by me - so ye, we need the juice still. Hardly any in summer but need juice daily in winter.
 
Thanks for the replies guys :) And do the solar panels need to be cleaned regularly or would this depend on rainfall and muck getting on them?
 
ryan411 said:
Thanks for the replies guys :) And do the solar panels need to be cleaned regularly or would this depend on rainfall and muck getting on them?
Click to expand...

Rain cleans mine... Have never cleaned them manually

*edit* tubes...
 
Last edited:
ryan411 said:
Thanks for the replies guys :) And do the solar panels need to be cleaned regularly or would this depend on rainfall and muck getting on them?
Click to expand...

Sinbad said:
Rain cleans mine... Have never cleaned them manually
Click to expand...

On these notes, the vacuum tubes have an advantage here as they don't trap dirt anywhere near as easily as flat panels...
 
Any systems that you can just hook up to an existing geyser?
 
Swa said:
Any systems that you can just hook up to an existing geyser?
Click to expand...

There are, but the installer said it is a bit less efficient as the pipes are longer to get the warm water to the geyser.
 
What's a good price for a 150L split system retro-fit?
I had two quotes done by different suppliers and the one is R13 000 and the other R9 000. Same components - Pacific Solar, Geyserwise Max controller, etc.
Is one very expensive, or the one very cheap?
 
Last edited:
Compton_effect said:
What's a good price for a 150L split system retro-fit?
I had two quotes done by different suppliers and the one is R13 000 and the other R9 000. Same components - Pacific Solar, Geuserwise, etc.
Is one very expensive, or the one very cheap?
Click to expand...

Is both including installation? The first quote I got was cheap, but it didn't include installation and when I asked for it to be included it was more expensive.
 
Compton_effect said:
What's a good price for a 150L split system retro-fit?
I had two quotes done by different suppliers and the one is R13 000 and the other R9 000. Same components - Pacific Solar, Geuserwise, etc.
Is one very expensive, or the one very cheap?
Click to expand...

I used these guys but paid R13k (after rebate) for a 200litre. They do a 150l for R9 999 - http://www.totallysolar.co.za/
 
Both quotes included installation. The more expensive one included a battery in the components. When I asked them they told me its included because their system is smart and can circulate warm water back to the solar element if it gets really cold to stop frost damage.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X